Originally posted by gezando At worlds exhibitiion, most of the ladies included the ina bauer. Fumie's was the most impressive in my book, she covered MAJOR real estate with minimum set up, and the SPEED of her ina bauer was second to none in that exhibition. Sasha's ina bauer IMO did not cover the "entire rink" or "half of the rink" or "at most 1/3 - 1/2 rink", more like one eigth, and her speed was no where near 2 other ladies.

Well fortunately there is nothing written anywhere that an IB or spead eagle must go for miles. It, IMO, would depend on the music, the placement of the move, the point one is trying to make with the move whether it needs to, or choreographically should, be a long-held IB. I think they're lovely when they're held for a long time, but there's no hard and fast rule that says they have to be.

As for position, being from the old school of skating, of course I prefer the major arch in the back and leg position of someone like Sasha or Paul.

And, not to be picky, but Norlite forgot that a Bauer and Eagle both can be done on totally straight, no inside or outside. It requires more control, but they can be done.

Oh there is some revision, so Sasha's Ina did not cover the entire rink? I too must revise my earlier post, Sasha covered probably 1/4 to 1/3 rink. Yukina held the ina for a couple of seconds longer than Sasha

I watched the world exhibitions again, all 5 ladies performed IB, I love Fumie's the best. Whether the rule books said IB should be held for minutes instead of seconds or seconds instead of minutes. Fumie's IB was choreographed at the right place, there was freedom. She was so ethereal.

Off topic from IB, I love Fumie's costume for the Sanctus program. When she stroked and IB through the ice there was this wind on her hair, and skirt sailing feeling, there was so much joy in her motion.

I just had to come back to this thread.
I agree. I also just watched the encore from the jr. worlds exhibition where she skated the last part of her long program. That Ina Bauer is just breath taking. Besides the flexibility of her back there's also the way she does the particular move...there's so much tension, and the ina-spreadeagle-spiral sequence perfectly inteprets the music and brings the program to a wonderful end. She's so musical.

Originally posted by toutestgrace I love Sasha's back position and deep plunge with her bent leg. However, Paul Wylie's Ina Bauers have always struck me as powerful and loaded with emotion, the best use of the move for me.